Mystery in Red

Chapter XXIII - Wicked Games

After I discussed Carlos' penalty in detail with Mekies, the entire internal department moved to have it appealed. During this time, I continued my work on the track survey of Azerbaijan and the one of Miami at my temporary office.

Vasseur returned from Australia, but I wasn't sure if he realized that I was now working door-to-door with his deputy. I thought it well that I should make new friends, with whom I might make my stay at the Scuderia a little more pleasant, while Charles and Andrea aren't around. Robert Schwartzman and Antonio Giovinazzi helped me to introduce myself to the crew of mechanics and engineers during the mandatory lunch and coffee breaks. In general, I did not use these, the years of internship in Germany taught me like this, but for us Italians, everything was always so casual - "Festina lente", and in Ferrari they did not betray this concept. In order to fit in, I had to do everything like most of the team. I couldn't escape from my strategist nature, so this was another strategic move from me. And I actually thought it benefited from having people on my side inside the garages. So, if by chance one day I got the permission to be the Chief strategist, they would more easily take my orders, and at least at this stage, one good acquaintance could give me an access to the cars to receive free information about them, without the need to disguise myself as one of the pit crew or Mekies to take pity on me.

My strategy with going on lunch with the crew, bringing them coffee, talking about cars, engines, football – they were actually amazed how much I know about this game, won me a lot of men from the crew and I even had an avowed fan – his surname was Fusaro. Yes, that same guy, everybody faints over and once again part of Charles' garage, was one of the most enthusiastic people who greeted me every morning in the parking lot with a small cup of coffee and an outstretched hand as if to guide Charles before he exited the pits. He was really kind person, also, I could not deny it, good looking. Even Mia was fangirling over him, when we were talking during the breaks. I wondered why I was always surrounded by people from Charles' entourage and very few from Carlos' one.

And talking about him... Fortunately Carlos wasn't attending on the coffee breaks, only at lunch, but we went our separate ways without greeting or communicating with each other – both before his visit at my apartment and after that. The day after our conversation he continued working at the simulator. I went to see how is he doing twice then, but incognito. Even though I was ignoring him, not talking to him, I still cared about his performance. There, somewhere deep in my soul, was still some sympathy for him left. I was sad that we both had to come to this point and ruin the already fragile friendship we had managed to build during the few months we worked together. But it was understandable to feel like friends, we spent over 10 hours on average with each other almost every day. And when it was a race week, we were all day long together. Not only with Carlos, but also with Charles. I began to blame myself for being too trusting and considering friendship as something sacred. Therefore, I could hardly forgive betrayal. I wouldn't have thought if something like that had happened with the other driver. I was afraid to get  close to him too, but somehow things there were happening slowly and naturally, and I couldn't control them. Charles was there for me all the time and I hope this will be ever like that.

All the stress around my career path was exhausting me and thank Goodness it was Pasqua soon, so I could have a bit of rest out of Maranello, Modena and surroundings. I was planning to turn my phone off, to escape from the hectic life and to give myself a well-deserved relaxation on the sun lounger in the garden of the house in Capri. If the weather was good enough, I was going to open the bathing season and swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea. How long have I dreamed of feeling the waves caress my skin and the heated rocks burn my feet again! But the romantic side of my holiday was definitely going to be ruined when the entire "La Famiglia" gathered together on Sunday. I was already mentally prepared for the thousands of questions I would be bombarded with about my work and personal life. Things that were always the main topic at the table when relatives you don't keep in touch with often get together.